Page 13 of Darkest Love
But this is my chance at happiness and I have to take it.
So, I force myself to nod. “I’ll try too.”
“Then we have a deal.”
It’s a compromise but it doesn’t exactly make me happy.
Chapter Four
Anastasia
The reception goes by without any problems. People dance and eat and drink.
Adrien pulls me onto the dance floor for our first dance. My hands are clammy and my heart is racing. Being near him makes me lightheaded. Why can’t I be as confident around him as I want to be? Because I was never given the chance to learn how to socialize with men in this manner.
“Why are you frowning?” Adrien asks as he waltzes me around the dance floor. Of course he would be a good dancer. “Is it about me?”
“As long as you promise to not sleep with other women, then no, it’s not about you.”
“I promised I would try. You are my wife now and while I hate the idea of being settled down, I do find you interesting. And I know your brothers will have my head if I hurt you.”
“I’m glad I pass your inspection,” I mutter.
Adrien laughs and pulls me in closer. “You are in a mood. Why?”
“I was kept sheltered my entire life. By my father. Then by my uncle. And then by my mom and sisters. Everyone either wants to protect me or hurt me. No in between. That’s why I was frowning. I wasn’t prepared for this moment. I wasn’t taught how to be around men.”
“If you had your way growing up, you have been running around town, sleeping with whoever?”
I can’t help but flush. “I’m not sure about sleeping with tons of different people. But I do know I would have dated. I would have kissed boys. I would have had the chance to sleep with people. But I was never given the chance.”
“Because you American mafia members love keeping your girls innocent.”
“Is that not how they do it in France?”
“In France, sex isn’t as taboo as it is here.”
“Explains your need to see other women even though we’re married.”
He gives me a sly smile. “I promised I wouldn’t do that. As long as you try in our marriage too. If you don’t give me any reason to look outside our marriage, then we won’t have any problems.”
Now my frown is definitely because of him. “So, are you saying if I don’t sleep with you, you’ll go out and sleep with other women?”
“I have needs.” He says it so dismissively that it makes me stop dancing and pull away from him.
“What about my needs?”
His eyes darken as he looks me over. “Your needs? I’ll be happy to please you in whatever way you want.”
“I don’t mean physical.” Even though the thought of Adrien touching me is making me warm and excited. “I mean emotional. My heart.”
“Your heart? Don’t waste time on pointless emotions, Anastasia.”
“I told you to call me Ana.”
“I will call you whatever I want. I am your husband now.”
“So, you’re refusing to show me respect by not calling me by the name I asked of you?”
